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Didi Emmons

Didi Emmons began cooking omelets when she was ten and had her own catering business by the age of fourteen. She earned a BS in foodservice management at NYU and moved to Boston, working first for food writer Steven Raichlen in Boston.

Emmons worked as a stagiaire to receive her Grande Diplome from La Varenne (cooking school) in Paris and then returned to work in Boston kitchens. She opened and ran four successful restaurants over the next 13 years.

She has written two cookbooks, the first, Vegetarian Planet, which was nominated for a James Beard Award, and Entertaining for a Veggie Planet, which won the IACP award (formerly the Julia Child Awards) in the healthy cooking category.

Emmons subsequently opened Haley House Bakery Cafe, a non-profit cafe in Roxbury, whose staff are people transitioning from homelessness and incarceration. She has since begun a program at Haley House Bakery Cafe, called "Take Back the Kitchen," teaching Roxbury and Dorchester residents how to eat and cook healthfully.

Her first book, Vegetarian Planet, was nominated for a James Beard Award. Her second book, Entertaining for a Veggie Planet, won the Best Book in the Healthy Category by the International Association of Cooking Professionals (formerly the Julia Child Award).

Emmons also serves as a trans fat consultant for the Boston Public Health Commission, as well as a food consultant for the Boston Public School food service.

Didi's website.

Image courtesy of Haley House.

    Didi's Upcoming Events

    • Didi Emmons at Whelden Library
      2401 Meetinghouse Way , West Barnstable MA 02668
      May 24, 2012, 7:00 pm
    • Didi Emmons at Newton High School
      Newton High School, 457 Walnut Street , Newton MA 02460
      May 31, 2012, 12:00 pm

      Didii will have a herbal lunch/tasting with staff from the Vocational Culinary Department at Newton High School on May 31. She will also make recipes with students and have a book signing.

    • Didi Emmons at Harvest Restaurant
      44 Brattle Street , Cambridge MA 02138
      June 21, 2012, 7:00 pm
    • Didi Emmons at Cape Cod Garden Association
      Cape Cod Garden Association, Cape Cod MA
      July 26, 2012, 12:00 pm

    Didi's Books

    Wild Flavors

    One Chef's Transformative Year Cooking from Eva's Farm

    Wild Flavors follows a year at Eva's Garden through the seasons. It not only showcases Didi's creative talents using absolutely fresh ingredients, but introduces a whole cast of uncommon but sublime garden plants (cardoon, African basil, calaminth) and wild edibles (autumn olive, wild roses, Japanese knotweed). The author provides growing or foraging information for each of the forty-six plants profiled, as well as details on prepping, storing, preserving, and health benefits.

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